Automated dynamic dimensional measurement systems and methods

ABSTRACT

A method system of reducing operator-induced error in measurements comprises a measurement tool, such as a diameter gage, that is configured to communicate electrical signals representative of measurements to a computing device, which is configured to receive the signals and to determine a value for the measurement without the operator having to interact with the tool to zero the gage, acquire the data or transmit the data.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a non-provisional of U.S. Provisional ApplicationNo. 62/570,049, filed on Oct. 9, 2017, the entire contents of which areincorporated by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO APPENDIX

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The inventions disclosed and taught herein relate generally tometrological devices and processes; and more specifically relate toautomating the acquisition of dimensional measurements.

Description of the Related Art

U.S. Pat. No. 4,700,484, owned by Applicant, discloses, “An apparatusfor measuring the diameter of an object” is disclosed. A rotatable wheelof known diameter capable of movement in three axes is contacted with anobject capable of rotation. The wheel is attached to a shaft encoderwhich produces pulses as the wheel rotates. As the object is rotated,start and end reference marks are sensed and the pulses produced by theshaft encoder are counted. A microprocessor calculates the diameter ofthe object knowing the wheel diameter and counts per revolution and thecounts per revolution of the object. The apparatus can be adapted tomeasure the internal or external diameter of smooth objects or theinternal or external pitch diameter of threaded objects. The apparatuscan also use a calibrated object to measure the diameter of a wheel ofunknown diameter to allow the wheel to be used in later measurements.”

U.S. Pat. No. 4,524,524, owned by Applicant, discloses, “A gage andmethod are disclosed for measuring the inside or outside diameter of aproduct at a selected distance from the end of the product. The gage hasa pair of blocks slidable along a pair of parallel vertical guide rails.Each block has a bearing pad, which can be positioned against the end ofthe product to be measured. An arm extends horizontally from each blockand is slidably mounted in an aperture extending through the block. Acontact depends vertically from the end of each arm. One contact ismounted on a vertically reciprocal dial indicator plunger. The contactsare first positioned horizontally and vertically using gage blocks whichcorrespond to the specified diameter and distance from the end of thepipe. The gage is then positioned against the end of the product and thecontacts are brought into contact with the surface of the product atdiametrically opposed points thereon. The dial indicator displays thedeviation of the actual diameter from the specified diameter. This gageand method are particularly adapted to measuring pitch diameters ofinternally or externally, tapered or straight, threaded products.”

U.S. Pat. No. 5,182,862, owned by Applicant, discloses, “An improvedindicating thread gage for gaging the functional fit and individualthread parameters of threaded products, especially taper threadedproducts. Thread form elements engage the threaded product and arecapable of longitudinally traversing the threaded product while anindicator transduces radial displacement of the thread form element.”

U.S. Pat. No. 9,752,427, owned by Applicant, discloses, “A stator boregage comprises a detector assembly comprising a wheel configured toengage an inside surface and to transduce the varying surface diametersinto electrical or optical signals representative of the condition ofthe inside surface as the detector traverses the inside surface.”

US Patent Application Publication No. 2017-0038190, owned by Applicant,discloses, “A screw thread measurement system and methods may comprise aframe having a reference surface, a carrier coupled to the frame andconfigured to translate relative to the frame, a dimension measurementsystem coupled to the carrier and having a thread contact elementconfigured to translate relative to the frame and orthogonally thetranslation axis of the carrier. The dimension measurement systemconfigured to determine thread dimensions relative to the framereference surface.”

The content of U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,700,484, 4,524,524, 5,182,862,9,752,427, and US Patent Application Publication 2017-0038190 are herebyincorporated by reference.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONS

One of the many possible brief summary of the inventions is a method ofmeasuring comprising providing a metrological instrument configured totransduce one or more dimensional characteristics into one or moreelectrical signals representative of the one or more characteristics,and configured to communicate information representative of the one ormore characteristics; providing a computing device remote from themetrological instrument and configured to receive the informationrepresentative of the one or more characteristics; establishing a firstperiod; engaging the instrument with a product to be measured;automatically acquiring without human intervention or activation aplurality of signals representative of a dimensional characteristic ofthe product during the first period; automatically communicating withouthuman intervention or activation information representative of thecharacteristic acquired during the first period to the computing device;and determining at least one dimensional characteristic of the productfrom the information representative of the characteristic for the firstperiod. The instrument and computing device may be configured tocommunicate wirelessly. The computing device may comprise a smart phone,a tablet computer, or a laptop computer. As between the metrologicalinstrument and the computing device, the computing device may beconfigured to determine the dimensional characteristic. The dimensionalcharacteristic may be determined by a statistical analysis of theinformation representative of the characteristic. The informationrepresentative of the characteristic may comprise the plurality ofsignals representative of the dimensional characteristic of the productduring the first measurement period. The instrument may be configured toindicate that the first period is elapsing, that the period has expired,or a combination of both. The method may comprise indicating that thefirst period is elapsing, or that the first period has expired. Themethod may comprise indicating that a valid dimensional characteristiccould not be determined from the information representative of thecharacteristic.

Another of the many possible brief summary of the inventions is a methodof reducing human error in measurements may comprise providing ameasuring device configured to automatically transduce a measurementinto a plurality of electrical signals during a predetermined period;automatically acquiring without human intervention or activation aplurality of signals representative of a dimensional characteristic ofthe product during the predetermined period; providing a computingdevice remote from the measuring device; communicating automaticallywithout human intervention or activation the plurality of electricalsignals generated during the predetermined period to the computingdevice; and determining in the computing device a value representativeof the measurement based on the plurality of electrical signals. Thedevice and computing device may be configured to communicate wirelessly.The computing device may comprise a smart phone, a tablet computer, or alaptop computer. The value may be determined by a statistical analysisof the plurality of electrical signals. The device maybe configured toindicate that the predetermined period is elapsing, that the period hasexpired, or a combination of both. The method may comprise indicatingthat the predetermined period is elapsing, and/or that the predeterminedperiod has expired. The method may comprise indicating that a valuecould not be determined from the plurality of electrical signals. Thepredetermined period may be based on a type of measurement to be made.The method may comprise providing a software application on thecomputing device configured with a sequence of predetermined windows fora particular type of measurement. The particular type of measurement maybe selected from: inside diameter, outside diameter, thread profile,minor diameter, pitch diameter, major diameter, pitch, flank angle,thread length, crest diameter, ovality, thread height, stand-off, threadaddendum and run-out.

These brief summaries are not intended to define or limit the contentsof this disclosure or the scope of the appended claims, or of any claimsthat ultimately issue herefrom.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The following figures form part of the present specification and areincluded to demonstrate further certain aspects of the presentinvention. The invention may be understood better by reference to one ormore of these figures in combination with the detailed description ofspecific embodiments presented herein.

FIG. 1 illustrates a conceptual flowchart providing an overview of oneof many possible embodiments of the present inventions.

FIG. 2 illustrates a conceptual flowchart providing an overview of oneof many possible embodiments of the present inventions.

FIGS. 3-6 illustrate flow charts of the inventions disclosed herein thatmay be suitable for use with some specific metrological tools.

FIGS. 7-9 illustrate an embodiment of a dimensional measurementcomponent suitable for use with the present inventions.

While the inventions disclosed herein are susceptible to variousmodifications and alternative forms, only a few specific embodimentshave been shown by way of example in the drawings and are described indetail below. The figures and detailed descriptions of these specificembodiments are not intended to limit the breadth or scope of theinventive concepts or the appended claims in any manner. Rather, thefigures and detailed written descriptions are provided to illustrate theinventive concepts to a person of ordinary skill in the art and toenable such person to make and use the inventive concepts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The Figures described above and the written description of specificstructures and functions below are not presented to limit the scope ofwhat Applicant have invented or the scope of the appended claims.Rather, the Figures and written description are provided to teach anyperson skilled in the art to make and use the inventions for whichpatent protection is sought. Those skilled in the art will appreciatethat for the sake of clarity and understanding not all features of acommercial embodiment of the inventions are described or shown. Personsof skill in this art will also appreciate that the development of anactual commercial embodiment incorporating aspects of the presentinventions will require numerous implementation-specific decisions toachieve the developer's ultimate goal for the commercial embodiment.Such implementation-specific decisions may include, and likely are notlimited to, compliance with system-related, business-related,government-related, and other constraints, which may vary by specificimplementation, location and from time to time. While a developer'sefforts might be complex and time-consuming in an absolute sense, suchefforts would be, nevertheless, a routine undertaking for those of skillin this art having benefit of this disclosure. It must be understoodthat the inventions disclosed and taught herein are susceptible tonumerous and various modifications and alternative forms. Lastly, theuse of a singular term, such as, but not limited to, “a,” is notintended as limiting of the number of items. Also, the use of relationalterms, such as, but not limited to, “top,” “bottom,” “left,” “right,”“upper,” “lower,” “down,” “up,” “side,” and the like are used in thewritten description for clarity in specific reference to the Figures andare not intended to limit the scope of the invention or the appendedclaims.

Particular embodiments of the inventions may be described below withreference to block diagrams and/or operational illustrations of methods.It will be understood that each block of the block diagrams and/oroperational illustrations, and combinations of blocks in the blockdiagrams and/or operational illustrations, can be implemented by analogand/or digital hardware, and/or computer program instructions. Suchcomputer program instructions may be provided to a processor of ageneral-purpose computer, special purpose computer, ASIC, and/or otherprogrammable data processing system. The executed instructions maycreate structures and functions for implementing the actions specifiedin the block diagrams and/or operational illustrations. In somealternate implementations, the functions/actions/structures noted in thefigures may occur out of the order noted in the block diagrams and/oroperational illustrations. For example, two operations shown asoccurring in succession, in fact, may be executed substantiallyconcurrently or the operations may be executed in the reverse order,depending upon the functionality/acts/structure involved.

We have invented apparatuses and methods to determine or measure one ormoredimensional characteristics of a manufactured item, withoutinducing, or by minimizing, error-inducing interaction by an operator,such as by automatically acquiring measurement data. For example andwithout limitation, the apparatus and methods can be used to determineor measure, among other parameters, inside or outside diameter, threadprofile parameters, minor diameter, pitch diameter, major diameter,pitch, flank angle, thread length, crest diameter, ovality, threadheight, stand-off, thread addendum and run-out.

In a preferred implementation of the inventions disclosed herein, one ormore dimensional properties of an item, such as a machined part orthread system, is measured while the part is being manufactured. Anembodiment utilizing aspects of the inventions disclosed herein mayproduce measurements with very good precision, accuracy, andrepeatability without error-inducing interactions by the operator formeasurement acquisition or transmission, and/or without observing orinteracting with dials, meters, or other displays on the tool or in anyother part of the system.

It will be appreciated by those familiar with the art that a measurementis made or taken when an operator applies a tool, such as a gage ormeasurement device, to a work piece, and either visually observes thevalue of the measurement, and/or physically actuates a data acquisitioncomponent (such as depressing a button), both of which interactions mayinduce movement, and therefore errors in the measurement. In some priorart methods, a measure is recorded when an operator observes thereadings on the tool while taking a measure, selects one reading andwrites it down or otherwise enters the information. In the apparatusesand methods disclosed herein, a measurement may be made or determined bystatistically analyzing all or a selection of readings from a tool whiletaking a measurement, and then computing the optimal value for themeasurement.

It will also be appreciated that determination of the optimal value ofthe measurement made by a tool utilizing the inventions disclosed hereinmay be done without human intervention or activation during measurementacquisition or transmission. That is to say, a human operator mayactualize the tool by placing it on or near a product and effectuatingthe tool, but the human operator will not intervene to observe or causethe readings made by the tool. While the operator may need to move thetool through a defined measurement path, such as a measurement sweep,the operator will not need to interact with the tool to activate areading or measurement acquisition, or measurement transmission.Instead, a tool and system utilizing the inventions disclosed herein maybe configured to automatically take or acquire measurement readingsduring a predetermined measurement window to thereby eliminate operatorinteraction during measurement acquisition. The acquired data may beautomatically communicated to a computing device to determine at leastone dimensional property or characteristic from those readings.

To further explain this by contrast, some prior art devices must betriggered by an operator so that a reading may be taken or acquired.Pressing a button or otherwise having an operator physically intervene,such as by zeroing a dial, or otherwise activate the tool, may affectthe accuracy and/or precision of the reading. In one situation, theoperator may be distracted from observing a gage or meter whileintervening with or activating the tool. In another situation, theaction of the operator intervening with or activating the tool may alterthe position of the tool thereby giving a non-optimal reading.

It will also be appreciated by those of skill in the art that productsto be measured may have common properties. As an example, drill stringpipes have pin ends and box ends with tapered threads. The taper is aproperty shared by all drill string pipes. A specific piece of drillstring pipe will have the property of tapered threads, but it will alsohave a specific and measurable characteristic of that property. Morespecifically, a production run of drill string pipe may specify a threadtaper rate of 1.8000°. This may be considered the property of the drillstring pipes from that production run. Measuring one specific pipe mayfind that the thread taper is actually 1.7989° on the pin end and1.7984° on the box end. These may be considered to be characteristics ofthat specific piece of pipe.

Embodiments of our systems may comprise two main subsystems: first, ametrological instrument or measurement gage configured to transduce oneor more dimensional properties into one or more electrical signalsrepresentative of the one or more dimensional properties, and configuredto electrically communicate the one or more electrical signals from themetrological instrument; and, second, a computing device remote from themetrological instrument and configured to receive the one or moreelectrical signals from the metrological instrument. The computingdevice comprises a software application configured to process datareceived from the instrument and to determine a value of the measuredcharacteristic. In a preferred embodiment, the instrument continuouslyacquires measurement data and wirelessly streams that data, and thecomputing device receives, processes and determines the value of therequired measurement or measurements from that data. It will beappreciated that most digital metrological instruments or gages have adata port, which can be used for wired communication with the computingdevice of the present inventions. Some digital measurement devices areequipped with a wireless transmitter. For those digital gages without anembedded wireless transmitter, the present invention contemplates awireless communication module configured to interface with an existingdata port for wireles sly communicating measurement data as describedherein.

The metrological instrument that may be used with the inventionsdisclosed herein may be any metrological tool, such as but not limitedto those depicted in the Gagemaker® product information catalog,including the electronic catalog available over the Internet. Many othertools that take measures may also be capable of utilizing the inventionsdisclosed herein. In one of many possible embodiments, the dimensionalmeasurement component may be one such as described in U.S. Pat. No.8,839,669, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

As a general, but not limiting, example to enable aspects of theinventions disclosed herein, many metrological tools have at least onepoint or surface that may placed on or near a product. Another point orsurface of the tool may react against the surface or a point of theproduct. This reaction, or deflection, may be displayed in some manneron the tool indicating a measure of a characteristic of the product. Amore defined example may be of a tool that measures the outer diameterof a pipe. The tool may have a first surface, such as a contact point orshoe, that is placed on a location on the outer surface of the pipe.Another end of the tool may have a dial gage affixed in such a mannerthat the contact point of the dial gage will be at maximum extensionwhen it does not touch anything, but at a reduced extension at a pointopposite the first surface of the tool when taking a measurement. Thevalue of reduced extension will be representative of the diameter of thepipe at that location. To measure the diameter of the pipe, an operatorof the tool will place the first surface of the tool at a predeterminedlocation on the outer surface of the pipe. The operator will thenactuate the tool by keeping the first surface of the tool in constantcontact with that location on the surface of the pipe, and moving orsweeping, the other end (contact point) of the tool in a manner suchthat the maximum or minimum deflection of the dial gage may be observed.

If the contact tip of the dial gage were contacting the first surface ofthe tool when the reading on the dial was exactly 0, then a directmeasure could be obtained by observing the dial when the tip was atmaximum deflection when measuring the diameter of the pipe. However, theoperator usually has to adjust the dial bezel to obtain the zero readingbefore the measurement sweep is begun. This type of human interactionduring the measurement cycle can induce measurement errors.

There are known deficiencies with prior art systems and methods that theinventions disclosed herein address. As noted previously, for analogtools, an operator may become distracted from holding the tool at apoint of maximum deflection on the gage when observing or zeroing thedial of the gage. Also, the gage may be positioned in such a way thatthe operator is not able to easily observe the dial from the properperspective, which may yield an error. Also, the operator may be makinga somewhat subjective reading in trying to observe a gage reading byvisually estimating the location of the indicator between gage marks onthe dial. In a similar manner, an operator may make a transcriptionerror when recording the observation. For digital tools, the operatormay have to press a button to begin data acquisition, to end dataacquisition, to zero the tool, and/or to transmit or record data. All ofthese operator interactions associated with the measurement cycle have atendency to induce measurement errors.

The metrological instrument of the subject application may have one ormore dimensional measurement components, which may comprise one or moretransducers configured to measure or determine a physical characteristicof a product, such as, but not limited to, diameter, thickness, or lead.It is preferred that the dimensional measurement components be portable,battery powered, and comprise a radio frequency transmitter ortransceiver configured to transmit electrical signals representative ofthe one or more measurements being made. In a preferred embodiment, thesystem transmits and receives data via Bluetooth® or other IEEE 802.15wireless transmission protocol to a data storage and processing systemor computing system. In a metrological instrument that has more than onedimensional measurement component, the dimensional measurementcomponents may share a single transceiver. Alternately, the dimensionalmeasurement component may accumulate data from the one or moretransducers, manipulate or transform the data, and then transmit thedata, or a summary of the data, to the data processing subsystem. Thedata from the dimensional measurement component can be transmitted tothe data processing subsystem by radio frequency, such as Bluetoothcommunication protocol, other wireless or radio frequency dataprotocols, or by hard-wired communication protocol.

Regardless of data transmission method, the data processing system maycomprise a smart phone, tablet (such as an iPad®), laptop computer,desktop computer, website, or cloud-based system. The data processingsubsystem may be configured with processor(s), memory, software, andother circuitry and components to receive data from the measurementinstrument, process data for transmission, if necessary, and transmitdata. The data processing subsystem may request input from and provideinstructions to an operator at the various steps in the processes ofmaking measurements. It is preferred that the data processing subsystembe portable, battery powered and comprise a wireless receiver ortransceiver configured to receive an electromagnetic signal from thedimensional measurement component.

It is presently preferred, but not required, that this transmission fromthe dimensional measurement component to the computing device beone-way. Depending on the particular requirements of each implement ionof the inventions, the communication link between the dimensionalmeasurement component and the data processing subsystem can utilize adigital protocol or analog protocol. Applicants have found that the SENTprotocol (Single Edge Nibble Transmission) as described in the SAE J2716standard over Bluetooth transport provides acceptable performance forthe inventions described herein.

Turning now to the figures, FIG. 1 illustrates a conceptual flowchart1000 providing an overview of one of many possible embodiments of thepresent inventions. The process starts with an operator initializing asoftware application on the computing device, 1002. This may be assimple as just starting or launching the application, but may alsoentail that the operator input information such as the identification ofthe tool that will be used, his own identification such as a username,and any other information that may be useful to the measurement ormeasurement reporting process. The operator may then initialize the toolto which the computing device will communicate. In a preferredembodiment, the metrological instrument may have an accelerometer orother motion-sensing device, and initialization may be done by merelypicking up or shaking the metrological instrument. In alternativeembodiments, tool initialization may be done by some interaction withthe tool, such as by deflecting a measurement contact, by shaking thetool thereby activating a motion sensor, pressing an on/off button, orby any of a number of other means. In a preferred embodiment, there maybe no visual indicators on the tool. In an alternative embodiment, auser may interact with the tool to signal a new action or measurement.As an example, quickly depressing and releasing the measuring rod of thepitch diameter and taper gage may signal a new work piece is to bemeasured. Similarly, doing that twice may signal something else.

Once the tool is initialized, a communications link to the computingdevice may be established. The success, failure, and/or status of thelink may be displayed on or by the computing device, such as through avisual or auditory indicator, may be displayed on the measurement tool,such as through a visual or auditory indicator, or both.

As FIG. 1 illustrates, the operator may then select a calibrationmethod. In the example of a tool that measures the diameter of a pipe,the calibration method may be performed by inserting and removing astandard into the tool. In one embodiment, the standard may have endsthat are squared. In another embodiment, the standard may have roundedends. When the calibration method has been selected on the computingdevice, the operator will actualize the tool with the standard. In apreferred embodiment of the measurement tool, once initialized, the toolcontinuously streams data, and, therefore, automatically sends aplurality of readings or measurements from the dimensional measurementcomponent to the computing device about the standard. The computingdevice is preferably programmed to recognize, such as through dataanalysis that a standard is being measured, and a measurement period orwindow of a predetermined amount of time is activated. The computingdevice will then process all readings taken during the interaction ofthe standard with the tool during the measurement window, and willdetermine a calibration value based on a statistical analysis or otheranalysis of the data. It is preferred, but not required, that thecomputing device, the measurement tool, or both, provide the operatorvisual or auditory or other sensory information concerning thecalibration or “zeroing” process. For example, LEDs on the measurementtool, or the screen on the computing device may be configured to showthe progress or status of the calibration period.

In one embodiment, once this calibration value has been determined, thatis, once the measurement tool has been calibrated, the application onthe computing device will start a timer with a predetermined value. Theoperator must effectuate or complete a measurement within that timerperiod. If a plurality of data representing the measurement aresuccessfully received by the application, the application will restartthe timer and the operator may go on to effectuate other measurements.However, if the timer expires without sufficient or adequate data beingreceived, the application will not process any more measurements untilthe tool has been recalibrated. In a preferred embodiment, the timerperiod may be between 7 and 15 seconds, with a preferred embodiment of10 seconds. This period may allow an operator the time needed to move toa new location and make another measure without the tool falling out ofcalibration. It is believed that a resolution of 1 mil (0.001 inch) maybe realized with acquisition of about 10 measurements per second (at 8bits), and a resolution of about ½ mil (0.0005 inch) may be realizedwith acquisition of about 26 measurements per second (at 8 bits. Otherresolutions and samplings are also contemplated.

Alternately, the measurement period described above may be proceeded bya null or movement period, such as for example, about 3 to about 10seconds, during which the operator may move to a product to be measuredand/or to position the tool on the product. The application may beconfigured not to use data received during any such null period formeasurement determinations.

It is preferred, but not required, that the computing device, themeasurement tool, or both, provide the operator visual or auditory orother sensory information concerning the null periods, the measurementperiod, or both. For example, LEDs on the measurement tool, or thescreen on the computing device may be configured to show the progress,status, or existence of the null period, and/or of the measurementperiod. It is contemplated that the operator may wear an ear bud thatprovides auditory indications of progress, status, or existence of thenull periods, and/or of the measurement periods.

It will be appreciated that measurement period may need to be differentfor different tools, products, and/or measurements. In an exemplaryembodiment of a tool used for measuring pitch diameter and tapers, ameasurement period of about 10 seconds has been found to be acceptable.However, other type of measurements may take shorter or longer periodsfor an operator to move the tool to a new location on a product or to anew product for another measure to be taken. It is contemplated that theapplication will have a menu from which a specific type of measurementmay be selected, and that the measurement period(s), including nullperiods, if implemented, will be established.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment where an operator may make multiplemeasurements with a tool on a product without interacting, or withminimal interaction during the measurement cycle with either the tool orthe computing device. However, FIG. 2 shows an additional step 202 wherethe application displays the measurement. This may be useful inscenarios where an operator needs to know immediately the results of ameasurement cycle, such as, but not limited to, a machine tool, such asa lathe or mill, operator who needs to see the results of the millingoperation so that adjustments may be immediately made.

FIGS. 3 through 6 are flow charts utilizing the inventions disclosedherein that may be used for other tools. FIG. 3 may be used with a pitchdiameter and taper gage. FIG. 4 may be used with a seal ring groovegage, such as the Gagemaker® BXgage. FIG. 5 may be used with a seal ringgroove gage, such as the Gagemaker® BXG gage. FIG. 6 may be used with acrest diameter and ovality gage, such as the Gagemaker® MRP gage. Eachof these different gages represents a different or separate measurementoperation, cycle, or sequence. It is contemplated that the applicationwill be configured to implement the required sequence of calibrationwindow(s), measurement window(s), null window(s), and/or other periodsto effect the appropriate measurement cycle for that particular tool ortype of measurement. It is also contemplated that the operator will knowand follow the measurement sequences and timing to produce precise,accurate and repeatable measurement. It is also contemplated that theapplication can “learn” about each user's habits, and optimize theduration of the various windows. For example, the application mayshorten, or may suggest shortening, a measurement window for efficientoperators.

FIG. 7 depicts a dimensional measurement component 700 comprising atransducer 702 and wireless transceiver 704. While this illustrates adimensional measurement component 702 with a display 706 and featuresthat allow interaction by an operator, (such as zero key 708, on/off key710, units key 712) a preferred embodiment will not have these features.The transducer is illustrated to comprise a face 714, a stem 716, aspindle 718, and a contact point 720.

FIG. 8 depicts a metrological tool with the dimensional measurementcomponent 700 illustrated in FIG. 7. In this embodiment, themetrological tool 800 is a pitch diameter and taper gage. As discussedpreviously, during a measurement cycle, the operator must hold this toolon, e.g., a pin end of a drill pipe, at a predetermined location andsweep the tool through 360° to obtain the data necessary from which avalue representing diameter may be obtained. Although the operator mustinteract with the tool to perform the sweep, with the presentinventions, the operator does not have to interact with the tool tostart or stop the data measurement or to transmit the data to thecomputing device. In one proposed embodiment, in which the toolcontinuously streams data, the operator may place the tool on the pinend and begin a measurement sweep. The application is configured todetermine when a measurement cycle or sweep is under way, such asthrough statistical analysis of the streamed data, and if determined,select measurement data within the measurement period for use indetermining a measurement value.

FIG. 9 depicts another view of the dimensional measurement component700. A prior art digital gage 702, such as available from Mitutoyo andothers, is illustrated with a wireless transceiver module 704 attachedto communicate data from the exiting data port (not shown). Module 704is shown to comprise a battery 902 and circuit board 904.

In alternate embodiments, the tool may be equipped with other sensors orindicators that may be utilized to indicate when a measurement is beingtaken. As an example, some tools are preferentially used in certainorientations, such as when the pipe is horizontal. In that case, anorientation sensor may indicate that a measure is to be taken. As anexample, a pitch diameter and taper gage tool will be held vertically totake measures on a horizontal pipe, but the tool is likely storedhorizontally.

Also, some tools are preferentially used when one portion isstationarily placed against the pipe and another part is moved.Accelerometers may be used to indicate when a measure is being taken. Asan example, a pitch and taper gage may have one point placed and held ata datum while the other end will be swung or swept in an arc around theproduct.

Also, most tools contact the pipe, which may be conductive toelectricity and may also be magnetic. A proximity sensor or magneticsensor may let the application know when the tool is nearing a pipe end.A contact sensor or conductivity sensor may be used to let theapplication know that the tool is in contact the product and a measureis being or can be taken.

A preferred embodiment of the tool has no visual measurement displays oroutputs on the tool. However, in some cases, it may be preferable tohave some type of operator feedback mechanism on the tool. If this isdesired, once a measurement cycle has been completed, the applicationmay send a signal to the tool to notify the user. This signal mayactivate an LED light such that yellow indicates that a measure may bemade, green is a successful measurement is cycle recorded, and red is anunsuccessful measure or some fault, or that the timeout period hasexpired and the tool needs to be recalibrated. Similarly, auditory tonesor a synthesized voice from the tool may accomplish this feedback.

In another envisioned embodiment, the application, rather than the tool,may send feedback to the operator, or may use a third device such as acell phone or other device that the operator has access to. In such acase, when the application records a measure, it may send a signal tothe cell phone or ear bud of the operator. This may be a vibration or anaudible tone or synthetic voice, which may give further instructions tothe operator.

In another alternative embodiment, the application may note how quicklyor slowly an operator is taking measures, and may adjust the timerintervals from that data. Faster users may be given less time to takenew measures, and slower users will be given more time.

In another alternative embodiment, an operator may speak somepredetermined words to an audio input, such as a microphone, on the toolor on the computing device, or associated with an ear bud to initializeit, or to make menu selections in the application. This would leave thehands of the operator free. Similarly, the tool may have a microphone(see, e.g. microphone 802, FIG. 8) such that the operator would be ableto provide input to the application by speaking to the tool.

In another envisioned embodiment, the tool may be equipped with its ownprivate signing key that it may use to securely sign all information itsends. Similarly, the application may be configured to only acceptsigned information from the tool. The application may then furthersecure the recorded information with its own signing key to providesecured and nonrepudiable records. Others looking at the informationwill be able to ascertain that the information was signed by theapplication and by the tool, and the information (such as the set of allrecords) will be tamper-proof or at least tamper-evident.

Some scenarios can be described to further explain aspects of theinventions disclosed herein. In a first scenario, a machine tooloperator may utilize the inventions while manufacturing tapered pipeends. The objectives of the operator would be to take or make aplurality of measurements of the pipe ends during the lathing process toensure that the threads are being cut to specification. In the prior artoperation, the operator may take the following steps: stop the machinetool; pick up a metrological tool; calibrate or zero the tool with astandard; apply the tool to the taper to be measured at a known point;observe the gage reading; record the best reading; look up the designedmeasure for the point measured and compare that to the reading taken;replace the tool, or take another reading; make any adjustments andrestart the lathing operation.

The same scenario but utilizing the inventions disclosed herein mayproceed as follows: the machine tool operator stops the machine tool;the machine tool operator picks up a metrological tool from, forexample, its charging station; this movement or decoupling actionactivates the App, which asks if this is the same piece of pipe or a newpiece; the operator responds to that inquiry, such as by speaking to thetool, or inputting feedback to the computing device, and selects amethod to calibrate the tool, and places a standard into the tool thenremoves it. The App determines the calibration, and signals theoperator, such as through a yellow LED that the tool is ready and themeasurement period is running. The operator then applies the tool to thepoint to be measured, and may move the tool about the measurement pointor to other points be measured. The at the end of the measurementperiod, the App indicates to the operator such by a green LED ameasurement cycle has been successfully completed. The operator placesthe tool back into the charging station ending the measuring operation;the App presents the operator with the characteristics of the work piecealong with a calculated measurement and tolerances; the operator makescorrections to the product, if needed and resumes the machine tooloperators. Alternatively, the App may just send parameters forcorrections directly to the machine tool.

In a second scenario, a pipe manufacturer may make final qualityassurance (QA) measurements for a production run of pipe, and record thecharacteristics of each piece. The objective of the QA supervisor wouldbe to record measures of each piece of pipe for manufacturingcertification and to publish to the purchaser of the pipe. In the priorart operation, the QA supervisor may take the following steps: thesupervisor walks through the stacked pipe with paper forms and a tool;the supervisor records the identity of the pipe to be measured on thepaper form; zeros the tool with a standard; applies to the tool to thepiece to be measured; observes the gage readings; records the bestobserved reading on the paper form; move to the next piece of pipe; wheneach piece of pipe has been recorded in this way, the supervisor returnsto his or her desk and inputs all of the pipe identities with all oftheir measured characteristics.

The same scenario with the benefits of the inventions disclosed hereinmay proceed as follows: the QA supervisor walks through the stacked pipewith a small computing device, such as a tablet or smart phone, loadedwith the App on it and a metrological measuring tool; inputs theidentity of a specific piece of pipe into the App; alternatively, thecomputing device may have a bar code or QR reader which may furtherautomate the process; selects a zeroing or calibration method; places astandard into the tool and removes it; applies the tool to the point tobe measured, and possibly moves the tool to other points to be measured;as each piece of pipe is measured, the identity of the pipe and itscharacteristics are transmitted to a cloud-based application which fillsout the certifications and may also notify a purchaser.

A similar scenario may involve an operator selecting pipe for use indrilling in an oilfield.

Combining these scenarios may allow post-use heuristics of product. Asan example, comparisons may be made between the recorded readings ateach point in the life of the pipe (final QA at manufacturing, receivingat stockyard, receiving at field site, etc.). Any differences mayindicate a tool is misaligned, a standard has been damaged, the pipe wasdamaged or warped in transit, and so forth. Long-term reviews ofreadings and any correlations determined from them may pinpoint specifictools and/or practices that may be improved. This may also includekeeping statistics of users who are taking the readings. An analysis ofthese statistics may provide best practices or further optimizations.

Other and further embodiments utilizing one or more aspects of theinventions described above can be devised without departing from thespirit of Applicant's invention. Further, the various methods andembodiments of the methods of manufacture and assembly of the system, aswell as location specifications, can be included in combination witheach other to produce variations of the disclosed methods andembodiments. Discussion of singular elements can include plural elementsand vice-versa.

The order of steps can occur in a variety of sequences unless otherwisespecifically limited. The various steps described herein can be combinedwith other steps, interlineated with the stated steps, and/or split intomultiple steps. Similarly, elements have been described functionally andcan be embodied as separate components or can be combined intocomponents having multiple functions.

The inventions have been described in the context of preferred and otherembodiments and not every embodiment of the invention has beendescribed. Obvious modifications and alterations to the describedembodiments are available to those of ordinary skill in the art. Thedisclosed and undisclosed embodiments are not intended to limit orrestrict the scope or applicability of the invention conceived of by theApplicants, but rather, in conformity with the patent laws, Applicantsintend to fully protect all such modifications and improvements thatcome within the scope or range of equivalent of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of measuring, comprising: providing ametrological instrument configured to transduce one or more dimensionalcharacteristics into one or more electrical signals representative ofthe one or more characteristics, and configured to communicateinformation representative of the one or more characteristics; providinga computing device remote from the metrological instrument andconfigured to receive the information representative of the one or morecharacteristics; establishing a first period; engaging the instrumentwith a product to be measured; automatically acquiring without humanintervention or activation a plurality of signals representative of adimensional characteristic of the product during the first period;automatically communicating without human intervention or activationinformation representative of the characteristic acquired during thefirst period to the computing device; and determining at least onedimensional characteristic of the product from the informationrepresentative of the characteristic for the first period.
 2. The methodof claim 1, wherein the instrument and computing device are configuredto communicate wirelessly.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein thecomputing device comprises a smart phone, a tablet computer, or a laptopcomputer.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein the computing device isconfigured to determine the dimensional characteristic.
 5. The method ofclaim 4, wherein the dimensional characteristic is determined by astatistical analysis of the information representative of thecharacteristic.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the informationrepresentative of the characteristic comprises the plurality of signalsrepresentative of the dimensional characteristic of the product duringthe first measurement period.
 7. The method of claim 2, wherein theinstrument is configured to indicate that the first period is elapsing,that the period has expired, or a combination of both.
 8. The method ofclaim 7, comprising indicating that the first period is elapsing.
 9. Themethod of claim 7, comprising indicating that the first period hasexpired.
 10. The method of claim 2, further comprising indicating that avalid dimensional characteristic could not be determined from theinformation representative of the characteristic.
 11. A method ofreducing human error in measurements, comprising: providing a measuringdevice configured to automatically transduce a measurement into aplurality of electrical signals during a predetermined period;automatically acquiring without human intervention or activation aplurality of signals representative of a dimensional characteristic ofthe product during the predetermined period; providing a computingdevice remote from the measuring device; communicating automaticallywithout human intervention or activation the plurality of electricalsignals generated during the predetermined period to the computingdevice; and determining in the computing device a value representativeof the measurement based on the plurality of electrical signals.
 12. Themethod of claim 10, wherein the device and computing device areconfigured to communicate wirelessly.
 13. The method of claim 10,wherein the computing device comprises a smart phone, a tablet computer,or a laptop computer.
 14. The method of claim 12, wherein the value isdetermined by a statistical analysis of the plurality of electricalsignals.
 15. The method of claim 10, wherein the device is configured toindicate that the predetermined period is elapsing, that the period hasexpired, or a combination of both.
 16. The method of claim 14,comprising indicating that the predetermined period is elapsing.
 17. Themethod of claim 14, comprising indicating that the predetermined periodhas expired.
 18. The method of claim 10, further comprising indicatingthat a value could not be determined from the plurality of electricalsignals.
 19. The method of clam 10, wherein the predetermined period isbased on a type of measurement to be made.
 20. The method of clam 10,further comprising providing a software application on the computingdevice configured with a sequence of predetermined windows for aparticular type of measurement
 21. The method of claim 19, wherein theparticular type of measurement is selected from: inside diameter,outside diameter, thread profile, minor diameter, pitch diameter, majordiameter, pitch, flank angle, thread length, crest diameter, ovality,thread height, stand-off, thread addendum and run-out.